Magnetically operated game apparatus



Nov. 14, 1961 M. c. DUERKSEN MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1956 NOV. 14, M. c DUERKSEN MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

N 1 1961 M c. DUERKSEN MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 11, 1956 f hm INVENTOR.

BY All! l j X 8G vh 8A 86 vn 8A wn Nov. 14, 1961 M. c. DUERKSEN 3,008,717

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

MUM

IN V EN TOR.

United States PatentU 3,008,717 MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Menno C. Duerksen, 782 Homer St., Memphis, Tenn.

Filed Jan. 11, 1956, Ser. No. 558,446 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-122) This invention relates'to new and useful improvements in game apparatus and more particularly to a novel game apparatus in which an iron or steel ball is manipulated through a number of hazards into scoring relation with a number of goals by a magnet located beneath the playing surface of the apparatus.

It is one object of this invention to provide a game apparatus which is almost entirely a game of skill and which eliminates most of the elements of chance which are present in games of this type.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved game apparatus in which an iron or steel ball is manipulated along an inclined board by a magnet which is operated beneath the board in a position in which it is invisible. In this apparatus the position of the magnet can be determined only by observation of the position of the ball. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a magnetically operated game apparatus in which the difficulty of operation of the apparatus can be varied by adjusting the position of the magnet vertically beneath the board so that the magnetic force available for manipulation of the ball is correspondingly increased or decreased.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.

This invention comprises the new and improved combination of parts and their cooperative relationship one 3,008,717 Patented Nov. 14, 1 961 'ice indicated by the directional arrow associated with the goal. These goals may be any suitable scoring means or trip switches of any suitable type which may or may not be directional in nature according to the particular design of the playing board used. It should also be noted that the various goals are shown associated with a variety of playing hazards which are indicated only to illustrate the types of hazards which may be used in association with such goals without in any way limitingthis invention to the particular configuration or type of goals and hazards shown in the drawing. The various goals 4 to 17 inclusive have a variety of hazards numbered 18 to 31 inclusive associated therewith. These hazards will be described in more detail in connection with the opera tion of the game and are intended to be only illustrative of the type of hazards which may be used in a game With another, which will be described more fully hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, there is clearly and fully illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention, in which drawmgs:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, of the playing surface of this game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, of this game apparatus with the playing board removed showing the traversing mechanism for longitudinal and lateral movement of they magnet;

, FIG. 3 is a detail view taken on the section line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing the longitudinal and lateral traversing mechanism for the magnet in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of v FIG. 2 showing a front end elevation of the traversing mechanism for the magnet;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a view in section on the line 66 of FIG. 1.

It should be noted that the foregoing figures do not purport to be true sectional views and in each case are somewhat diagrammatic in that thicknesses of certain wall elements are omitted.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference and more particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown a game apparatus which is generally designated 1. The apparatus comprises an opaque board 2 which is of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, wood, or plastic. The board 2 has an upper surface 3 which provides a topplaying surface having a.'plurality of goals numbered 4 to17 inclusive thereon. The goals 4m 17 are shown diagrammatically as scoring devices which are actuated upon movement of the game ball past the goal in the direction apparatus of this type.

The game board is played using one or more playing balls 32 which are of a magnetic material such as iron or steel and adapted for manipulation by a magnet. The board may be used in a level horizontal position although it is preferable that the board be inclined very slightly (e.g. about 2 or 3 degrees) so that loss of control of the ball will cause it to roll to the lower end of the board. The lower end of the board is provided with a trap shown diagrammatically as 33 for retaining the ball 32 after the player has lost control of the ball. The lower end of the board has inclined walls or surfaces 34 and 35 which lead to the trap 33. The board is provided with an actuating mechanism for releasing the trap 33 so that the ball can be moved therefrom. In commercially operated forms of this game the actuating mechanism 135 would be coin operated.

Beneath the playing board (shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) there is provided a magnet 36 which is operable to move the ball 32. The board is provided with a traversing mechanism 37 for the magnet 36 which is operable to effect movement of the magnet 36 either laterally or longitudinally of the board. The traversing mechanism 37 has a handle 38 by which the mechanism may be moved laterally of the board. This traversing mechanism 37 is also provided with a crank 39 which operates a chain mechanism (shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and4) for moving the magnet longitudinally of the board. In operation of this game the magnet 36 cannot be seen from above the board and while it can be freely moved both laterally and longitudinally its position can only be deduced from the position of the ball upon the board. Since some of the hazards on the board are covered (as will be described in the operation of this game) the movement of the magnet to effect movement of the ball through such hazards requires a high degree of skill. It should also be noted the movement of the magnet longitudinally of the board is limited at the upper end of the board at a point shown by the dashed line 40. This limited movement of the magnet relative to certain of the hazards located at'the upper end of the board makes the scoring of the goals associated with those hazards a very diflicult task for the player of the game. As Was previously pointed out some of the hazards also have special difliculties to be'o-verco-me in obtaining the goals associated therewith. The hazards 20 and 26 are provided with inclined planes 41 and 42 respectively (see FIG. 5) which are operable to separate the ball from the magnet a distance Sufficient to cause the magnet to lose control of the ball. The hazards 25 and 29 are covered as indicated at 43 and 44 respectively (see FIG. 6) so that the position of the ball cannot be observed while moving through the respective hazards.

In FIG. 4the operating relation of the magnet and the ball to the playing board are shown more clearly. The

game apparatus is provided with a box type supporting structure having vertical walls 45 and 46 and a lower horizontal wall 47. The game apparatus is provided with a plurality of supporting legs 48 and 49. The playing board 2 is supported on the vertical walls 45 and 46 by a suitable supporting member 59. Spaced above and substantially parallel to the playing board 2 there is provided a glass cover 51 which is supported at the upper ends of the vertical walls 45 and 46. The cover 51 is supported by one or more supporting members 52 and is held in place by one or more retaining members 53.

Beneath the playing board 2 there are provided a pair of laterally extending supporting members or rods 54- and 55 respectively which support the traversing mechanism 37 for the magnet 36. There are also provided one or more longitudinally extending supporting members or rods 56 and 57 respectively. The members 56 and 57 are joined at each of the ends thereof by supporting members 58 and 59. The supporting member 58 has a member 60 secured thereon which is of angular crosssection, the sides of which extend substantially at a right angle. The sides of the supporting member 66 are pro vided With a plurality of wheels 61 which are supported on the supporting rod 54 for movement laterally thereon. The supporting member 59 is similarly provided with an angle shaped supporting member 62 having wheels 63 supported thereon and in rolling contact with the supporting rod 55. The supporting member 59 has one or more supporting members 64 secured thereon and extending outward therefrom and providing a support for a sprocket wheel 65. Similarly the supporting member 58 has one or more supporting members 66 extending therefrom and supporting a sprocket Wheel 67. The supporting member 66 also supports the crank 39 which is connected to the sprocket wheel 67 for actuation thereof. The supporting member 66 may also support a protective cover indicated by the dotted line 68. The supporting member 66 is also connected to and supports the handle 38 of the traversing mechanism. The sprocket wheels 65 and 67 have connected thereon an endless chain 69 which is operable to actuate the supporting member for the magnet 36.

The magnet 36 is provided with a non-magnetic supporting member 70 which is a C-shaped channel member. The supporting member 70 has angle shaped supporting members 71 and 72 secured to the upper and lower ends thereof. The angle shaped members 71 and 72 have supporting Wheels 73 and 74 supported in angular rolling contact with the longitudinally extending supporting rods 56 and 57 respectively. The chain 69 extends through the supporting member 70 and is secured thereto as indicated at 75 so that the magnet supporting member may be moved longitudinally of the game board by movement of the chain 69. The supporting member 70 is provided with supporting frame members 76 and 77 extending upward therefrom for supporting the magnet 36. The magnet 36 is supported in the frame members 76 and 77 by a bolt or other screw mechanism 78. The bolt or screw mechanism 78 is operable to position the magnet 36 adjustably in vertical relation to the playing board 2. The position of the magnet may therefore be varied upward or downward to produce a greater or less attraction for the ball 32 and thus render the game more or less dimcult for movement of the ball past the various hazards. The various supporting members for the magnet 36 are shown for purpose of illustration only and it should be understood that any suitable supporting means may be used.

In operation the magnet 36 is traversed longitudinally of the board by rotation of the crank 39 which moves the chain 69 to adjust the position of the magnet supporting member 70 longitudinally of the board. As was previously described the magnet supporting member 70 is supported by roller Wheel members 73 and 74 which permit its easy adjustment by rolling along the supporting rods 56 and 57. The lateral movement of the magnet is ac complished by lateral movement of the entire supporting structure including the supporting rods 56 and 57, the sprocket wheels 65 and 67, the chain 69 and crank 39 and handle 38. This structure moves laterally along the supporting rods 54 and 55 which provide a track for the wheels 61 and 63 of the supporting members 60 and 62 therefor. It is thus seen that the magnet may be moved laterally of the board by the handle 38 and may be adjusted longitudinally of the board by the crank 39. Since the magnet is located beneath the board however it is impossible to tell the exact position of the magnet except by observing the position of the ball 33. i

In playing this game the traversing mechanism would be moved in line with the ball 32 when it is positioned in the trap 33 and the magnet retracted fully to the lower end of the board. The actuating mechanism 35 (which may be coin actuated) is then actuated to release the trap 33 to permit the ball 32 to be moved out on the game board. The ball may then be moved by laterally traversing the mechanism using the handle 38 and longitudinally traversing the mechanism using the crank 39. The ball may be moved through any of the hazards according to any pattern which may be designed for the particular game which is in use. Many of the patterns for the hazards which are shown are merely tortuous paths through which the ball must be moved. In the hazards 26 and 20 however there are provided inclined planes 42 and 41 which asthe ball is moved thereupon cause the ball to be separated a sufficient distance from the magnet so that the magnet will lose control over the ball. Hazards of this type can be overcome by rapid movement of the ball so that the momentum of the ball will carry it past the hazard. Hazards such as are shown at 2'5 and 29 are provided with covers so that the position of the ball cannot be seen while moving through the hazard. A hazard of this type requires considerable skill to manipulate the ball therethrough. Hazard '27 is provided with a barrier 127 which is difficult to pass and is also provided with a gate 227 through which the ball may drop if the magnet loses control of the ball. The hazards 28, 29, 3t] and 31 are located at the upper end of the board and extend at least partially beyond the line 40 which defines the furthest extent of longitudinal movement of the magnet 36. The actuation of the goals associated with these hazards may be accomplished only by very skillful manipulation of the ball. As was previously pointed out the game may be varied in its difficulty by vertical adjustment of the magnet to provide a greater or lesser pull for manipulation of the ball 32. The game may also be made easier to play by changing the inclination of the playing board 2. If the board is made more nearly level the game is much easier to play. If the game board is elevated to a higher degree the game becomes much more difficult to play.

In the foregoing specification and the attached drawings there has been described only one preferred embodiment of this invention. In this preferred embodiment however the mechanism for actuating the magnet and the features for adjustment thereof, together with the particular configuration of goals and hazards on the playing board are intended only to be illustrative of the general concept of this invention and are not to be considered as limiting this invention to the particular details of those features as shown herein. It is therefore my intention that this invention shall be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States under said board in a continually concealed position and operatively connected to said magnet to move the same both laterally and longitudinally of said board to move said ball into scoring contact in said goals, said actuator moving means being constructed so that the position of the magnet may not be visually determined by the position or extent of actuation thereof, the position of the magnet being determinable only by the position of the ball, and ball-receiving means positioned at the lower end of the board for receiving the ball upon loss of the control of the ball by said magnet.

2. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which one of said hazards is covered to conceal the position of said ball during movement through the hazard.

3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which one of said hazards comprises an inclined plane operable to increase the distance between the ball and magnet, thereby decreasing the magnetic force therebetween and rendering more difficult the control of the ball by the magnet.

4. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet moving means limits the longitudinal and lateral extent of movement of said magnet and at least one of said hazards and the goal associated therewith are located beyond the limit of movement of said magnet so that the movement of the ball through said one hazard is accomplished by moving the ball at sufficient speed for the inertia thereof to move the ball past the limit of movement of the magnet to reach the goal associated with that hazard.

5. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is provided an adjustable supporting member for said magnet operable to adjust the position thereof vertically relative to said board to vary the sensitivity of control of the magnet of the movement of the ball.

6. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet moving means comprises a pair of laterally extending members supported beneath said board and 4 providing a track, a longitudinally extending member supported on and movable laterally along said track, a supporting member for said magnet movably supported on said longitudinally extending member, a closed loop drive chain connected to said magnet supporting member and supported on said longitudinally extending member, a rotary sprocket and crank carried on said longitudinally extending member and associated with said chain for movement of the same, and longitudinal movement of said magnet supporting member and lateral movement ofsaid longitudinally extending member being operable to provide longitudinal and lateral movement of said magnet under said board for moving said ball.

7. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which said playing surface is provided with a plurality of hazards past which said ball must be moved to score said goals.

8. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said supporting member is limited in its longitudinal movement along said longitudinally extending member so that said magnet is limited in its movement longitudinally of said board, and at least one of said hazards and the goal associated therewith are located beyond the limit of movement of said magnet so that the movement of the ball through said one hazard is accomplished by moving the ball at suflicient speed for the inertia thereof to move the ball past the limit of movement of the magnet to reach the goal associated with that hazard.

9. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said magnet supporting member is provided with means for adjusting the position of said magnet vertically relative to said board to vary the sensitivity of control of the magnet of the movement of the ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 820,367 Roberts May 8, 1906 997,348 Ward July 11, 1911 1,988,071 Bryn Jan. 15, 1935 2,036,076 Philippi Mar. 31, 1936 2,716,028 Yaeger Aug. 23, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,307 Great Britain 1910 251,359 Great Britain May 3, 1926 573,995 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1945 

